Each and every year thousands of students across the country set off to a new country, with the challenge of experiencing new discoveries and learning new skills. From students in their third year of university or even those in high school, regardless of the reason each and every student may be on short budget with little income. Students can and often have temporary jobs and for those fortunate the University or school may pay for the travel costs. Therefore having enough money day to day can be a challenge. That's why its vital to learn as many money saving tips and tricks as possible before leaving. Especially because this could be the first chance to learn how to manage your own money.

Depending on the duration of the stay, there are many different cheap options to help reduce the costs often experienced by those not doing their research and using their current price-plans. Unfortunately for those, this involves data roaming costs that can be up to 1000% more expensive than at home. Resulting in exorbitant phone bills. So before jetting off consider the different ways that you are going to keep in touch with those back home.

If you have a smartphone then this is important to understand what to use and what not to use. The first money saving tip is to ensure that when not in use – turn the data roaming off. This will stop any background apps that regularly collect data from the web. Such as weather apps and widgets that update frequently.

Because data roaming is off you will not receive any text messages or calls. But this is a good thing. Because not only will this help eliminate the chances of being charged, it will also allow the chance to capitalise on free Wi-Fi connections. Wi-Fi connections in most cities are provided complimentary within hotels and cafe's. The next step is to download Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps. For example Skype and Viber are the two most currently used VoIP providers in the UK. These can be downloaded onto computers or smartphones. It is through these apps that many different devices can remain connected and send messages, and even conduct free calls. Whenever there is access to a quality Wi-Fi connection. This is one of the most recommended methods of keeping in touch with your family and friends back home. Mainly because it provides easy access and convenience, with the added benefit of being free to use.

If you do not have a smartphone or unable to access a suitable Wi-Fi connection, or perhaps its a trip that involves a lot of travelling then consider another option. Such as getting those back home to contact you. When studying abroad it can be common to have specific working or studying hours that can be arranged with friends and family as suitable calling hours. Once arranged anyone who wants to contact you can do so in many different ways. Pending you have a mobile device that will have a stable network signal. If this applies then consider pre-paid international calling cards or using online access numbers.

For example, pre-paid calling cards are a great way for others to manage their own expenditure. By simply purchasing £5, £10, £15 or £20 of credit will mean just that. No contracts or hidden fees. Online access numbers provide a similar service, by having a unique access number for each country then followed by the country codes you can instantly connect to the desired number. Both of which provide cheap calls to Pakistan, Ireland, Andorra, Germany and hundreds of other countries around the world, from an UK land line or mobile phone. Calls can begin as low as 1 pence per minute from both a land line and smartphone.

It's worth noting that most VoIP services also provide an international calling service. Similar to calling cards and access numbers, you can call a number from any country around the world for a small fee per minute of each call.